Changing your name after marriage is one of the primary things that will make your changed relationship feel more real and literal. Be it the wife taking her husband’s surname or the other way around, talk on name change is something that rarely escapes marriage discussions. From changing your social and civic identity, to gaining a new name in financial and official records, the process involves plentiful steps and requires a good amount of your time and attention.
Any mistakes in this process might incur financial and time-related costs for couples. To save upon time and effort at a later stage, both partners need to make sure that they don’t take up the process of name change in haste, or without indulging in proper research. Here are certain things that you may expect to come your way when you legally change your name.
Changing your Name in a Haste
More often than not, couples start the process of name change in haste. Among other things, this can have serious repercussions on their travel plans and financial dealings. For instance, since air tickets cost less when booked in advance, booking honeymoon tickets on feasible dates, right after marriage, is one of the first things that couples do as soon as their marriage plans are set in motion. But in most airlines, the name on the ticket cannot be modified once booked. This is also the case with most visa documents if the travel plan includes a visit to another country. But once couples apply for a name change in their respective passports, right after their marriage, their travel plans will obviously be affected. This is because the name printed on the tickets and passport will not match.
Also, while the information on one’s passport is undergoing a change, travelling with old passports will not be possible. To avoid this, waiting to change your name legally after your return from your honeymoon or any other immediate travel, is a wise call and saves upon time and trouble.
Easy Way of Notifying others about Name Change
Though you would probably inform your near and dear ones about your name change either personally or through social media, email, and letters, it is always good to use your new name in the wedding thank you notes. This simple method will help establish your new name firmly in the minds of your friends, family, and acquaintances.
Not Following the Right Order
Not following the right order in the name change process may cause huge losses pertaining to money, time, and efforts. Firstly, it is essential to have a proof of your name change such as a court order and/or your marriage license. The next step is to approach the Social Security Administration for an updated Social Security Card.
Approaching the DMV’s office without an updated Social Security Card will only be a waste of time as it is an essential proof document that is required for changing your driver’s license and other related records. Changing your name with your utility providers and getting the bills in your new name is also something that has to be done before approaching the DMV’s office.
Have Certified Copies of your Marriage License in Hand
The state provides you with a free certified copy of your marriage license at the time of your marriage registration. But it is wise to apply for more copies, at least three, at the same time. It not only saves time as you can apply for updating your name with several agencies simultaneously, but also leads to reduced costs in the long run. Do remember that the costs of gaining these certificates vary in different states; but when applied along with the free copy, the costs incurred for extra copies is lesser than applying for them separately at a later stage.
Having Assumptions about Hyphenated Name Changes
Some couples assume that if the surname of the spouse is taken as a hyphenated name with their existing name, an official name change is not required. This is not true and can lead to problems in future as all official and financial records need to be updated with the new name, even if the change is only a hyphenated addition.
Choosing Names that will be Rejected
Some name change applications may be rejected by the State. Among other reasons, choosing the name of a celebrity for impersonation, or a numeral (except Roman numerals), punctuation marks, symbols, etc. serves to be a non-no. Also, the state finding out that the applicant is trying to evade debts serves to be another common reason that may attract a rejection of the application for name change.
Gathering the Appropriate Materials
While the requirements of each state serving to be different from another, finding these requirements will necessitate your involvement with the state's government website or a short visit to the local courthouse. For instance, if you do not wish to hire the servicers of an agency and wish to go the DIY way, you may like to look for the requisite forms at the information desk of your local courthouse. You may take the help of the clerk of courts.
In case you would rather go online for facilitating your search, all you need to do is look for the keywords "name change petition form in” <your state>. You search would probably bring up a long list of relevant websites from which you have to select the one that relates to that of your state's government portal. This search will also lead you to the various other documents that you will be requiring for moving forward. In most cases, the request for name changes are effectively handled by a family or probate court, but then, the regulations may vary from one state to the next. The following documents will be essential for the changing your name the legal way.
• Petition for name change
• Order showcasing the cause for name change
• Your Social Security Card
• Birth certificate and marriage license
• A photo ID
Giving a little time and attention to your name change process can save a lot of time and hassles for you. Going by the book will surely ensure a smooth name change approval in the later stages of this process.
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